Alain Cavaillès - Magrie[wijnalaincav]

Alain Cavaillès

From the top of the old village of Magrie, Alain Cavaillès enhances the subtleties of the bubble of Limoux and patiently leads his small wine estate towards excellence.

Half an hour from Carcassonne, as soon as we leave Limoux to go south, we understand here the need to deal with an additional item: steeper slopes and elevated uplands tell us that the Pyrenees are close and influence until here a climate already rich in a mix of Mediterranean and Atlantic influences.

It is in this incredible place that Alain Cavaillès decided to return home in 1999. From Limoux through his ancestors, trained on the benches of the ESC Marseille and world traveler as far as the Caribbean, vines are not a birthright but a growing certainty. And this path led to the heights of Magrie, where he found himself, one day, learning everything on a few plots that he would then acquire.

Harvesting by hand in small crates and vinification outdoors, everything "human scale" to play with the palette of fruits of these outstanding landscapes: "The richness of the soils and climatic influences allow me to have 17 different plots where seven varieties flourish, both local and from all over France" the man who cleared the steep slopes of heath and scrub to plant vineyards at 400m above sea level explains to us!

= Red Wine

= White Wine

= Organic Wine

= Blanquette, Sparkling Wine

But Alain Cavaillès does not focus only on thoughts about the grape, he is an ardent ambassador of the bubbles - "I want to help people discover that there are as many differences between sparkling wines as there are between wines" - and a philosophical storyteller about an unconventional range: no, you will not choose between a Blanquette de Limoux or a Crémant de Limoux in a hierarchy from good to the best, but between its "verticality" and "horizontality", understand "carnal", "mineral," "harmonious " or "sweet ". And especially, through a "blind Crucial Wine Tasting" you have to book with friends to share a unique journey through emotion and symbolism, even if, at each visit, Alain tells with great kindness the whole story of his wonderful adventure.

For our part, we still have not decided on " Etincelle Originelle ", "Micromegas", "Résilience" or "Nostra Perla," as we like to alternate between the amazing or reassuring sensations and the aromas of apple, undergrowth, fruit tart, white peach or even ginger aromas. Same conclusion for “Terre Forte”, the Limoux white, which succeed in a perfect balance between richness and freshness.

With plenty of bubbles and beautiful ideas in mind, we go down towards the valley of Corneilla where Alain Cavaillès also participates in the magnificent history of the Cabanes between Magrie and Cournanel. We wish to enjoy this walk again and again and remember the pleasure of a meeting as tasty as brilliant and unusual!

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Opening Alain Cavaillès - Magrie:

- On Thursday from 9.00 to 19.00, appointments for the other days
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Groups above 10 people is made only by appointment.
For the curious, fans, enthusiasts:I suggest you spend an hour, two hours or an entire day with us and with that our partners. Feel free to contact me to design your whole stay even if it is short in Limoux. You can choose between a simple tasting, an introduction to the wines of Limoux or full training with sensory analysis and blind tasting. As an example: "A Day in Limoux, land of history and nature"

An inspired tasting:What if we change everything, to get rid of the ideas received, why not try another tasting method. Instead of beginning with the eye, nose and move to the end through the mouth, why not immediately soothe your senses by generous "an appetizer" that takes you into the texture and structure of the wine, its horizontal side and organic, which links it to the ground. For the first clues given by the aftertaste you can slowly and at length discovered by the nose all the complexity of aromas, you raise to the vertical connecting it to the air. This initiatory journey accomplished, your eyes do not get tired to contemplate in a kindly reverie, colors, shades, reflections that make the magic of wine.

Limoux is best known for its sparkling wine, Blanquette de Limoux. This is reputed to be the oldest sparkling wine in France and dates back to 1531 when Benedictine monks from Saint Hilaire Abbey discovered that the wine they had laid down had fermented and formed bubbles. This was the beginning of Limoux’s bubbly - the Blanquette de Limoux which was the first AOC to be created in the Languedoc area. The process (the locals say) was stolen by Dom Perignon who went on to create ‘champagne‘. however the Limoux sparkling wine is a very high quality champagne substitute and Crémant, which was developed in 1990, has a top class reputation. Now a prestigious event attracting buyers from all over the world, “Toques & Clochers” puts up for auction the most promising barrels of AOC Limoux. A share of the proceeds are then used to finance the renovation of bell towers in surrounding villages. Every year the auction is hosted by one of France’s great chefs popularly referred to as a “Toques”, the traditional white chef’s hat....

Blanquette de Limoux

History tells us that Blanquette de Limoux, the world's first sparkling wine,
dates as far back as 1531. At the time, the monks of the Benedictine abbey of
Saint-Hilaire, near Limoux, were producing a somewhat unusual white wine in
their cellars. Inside its glass flask, with a cork top - very rare for wines at
this time - it acquired a natural sparkle. This was the forefather of the brut
which is tasted today at the world's most prestigious tables. Since they first
started cultivating vines, the growers of Limoux have aimed at maintaining the
originality of the Blanquette de Limoux growth and developing its quality. The
region's surrounding hills protect it from the extremes of the Mediterranean and
Atlantic climates, with the area enjoying a microclimate particularly suitable
for making quality white wine. The vines classified in the appellation are
always planted at the top of southern-facing slopes, giving the best exposure.
The soil here is shallow and sparse, full of chalk and stone....

La Tantina was born in 2012 from a desire to satisfy customers in search of a cuisine based on fresh products, made by professionals at a "brasserie". The location in the city center, under the arcades of the main square of Limoux, in the foreground to attend city events (night market, shows, dances), and the large sun terrace corresponded exactly to our desire to create a gourmet brasserie, complementary to our Restaurant Tantine et Tonton...

Brasserie Le Tivoli

It is with great pleasure that our brasserie near Carcassonne will let discover the specialties of the region on your plate. Friendliness, good humor and regional cuisine: the recipe of this etablissement is also café and guesthouse in operation for over 100 years..
A café-brasserie near Carcassonne, founded more than 100 years ago, Tivoli has crossed the times with the times. This café-brasserie near Carcassonne was taken completely renovated in 2004 by Jean-Marc Guiraud. Former manager of a bar atmosphere "The Barjo", this passionate rugby player is a heavy hitter now to offers of new services including the side of the theme bar. The Catering, a family story that lasts for 3 generations in Guiraud!

Auberge La Corneilla

Hotel - Restaurant Auberge de la Corneilla located in Cournanel (Aude) near Limoux, and twenty five kilometers from the city of Carcassonne welcomes you in the Cathar country in a warm and friendly atmosphere with two large rooms and a shaded terrace at the edge of the river. Very nice in the summer for its rural setting...
During holidays we offer special menus (christmas, valentine easter, mother's day, etc ...) two to three times per year at the change of season we change the map and menu with seasonal ingredients. In the weekend we offer in addition to the normal map a menu at 26 € with drinks (wine and coffee) included...

Hôtel Limoux

Hotel Limoux located at the entrance of Limoux (drive from Carcassonne), Hotel Limoux offers 12 quiet rooms, comfortable and functional (from 1 to 4 people). Each with a private entrance, you have direct access to the patio of the hotel. Carnaval in Limoux, "Los Fecos".
This typical village fête is held in late summer when the nights are still warm, and the crops and grapes have been harvested. But this annual fête in Limoux, is different in almost every respect. For a start it lasts not three days, but over two months; and not in summer but mid winter. It is the earliest and longest fête on the French calendar, starting in January and continuing until two weeks before Easter Sunday...

Restaurant
Tantine & Tonton

A native of the region, Stéphane Castaing began at the Hotel School of Carcassonne, before perfecting his training in prestigious institutions around the world. Paris, Méribel, Porto Vecchio, Berlin, Tokyo are only a few steps on his way. In 2007, after 20 years of bourlingage, he decided to return to the fold. With his wife Benedicte, he created his Tantine et Tonton restaurant, which quickly became a must in Limoux and La Haute Vallée de l’Aude. The family quickly grew: first in 2012, with La Tantina in the central square of Limoux, and in 2014 with The Bistro Tantine, Place Carnot in Carcassonne...

Maison de la Blanquette de Limoux

A creative, respectful cooking of the seasons and the products of the soil. A comfortable place for a very nice meal waits for you there. Shop and restaurant La Maison de la Blanquette, the house of Blanquette. Town of Limoux. Limoux. Languedoc. The wine shop and tasting room. The set menus in this restaurant offer local dishes to accompany the famous Blanquette de Limoux and other local wines. Epicurean tastes throughout- well balanced food and an excellent wine list...

L’Odalisque

The restaurant's Odalisque, "la cuisine mise à nu" is right in the heart of Limoux in a warm, rustic and modern environment, where chef Christopher Roussat mixes pleasure of the senses and food throughout the seasons. Chef Roussat Christopher cut his teeth at the Castle of Pomarède (1 Michelin star) and the Moulin de Mougins (2 stars Michelin). He does everything possible to serve gourmet cuisine open to all, both with original and inventive products and fresh seasonal vegetables....